Labour takes on Gonzi’s ‘kitchen drive’ campaign

Over the past few days, motorists have been greeted by a billboard of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in the kitchen holding a frying pan in one hand, and an omelette in the other, warning viewers that the Prime Minister "shouldn't be trusted in your kitchen".

The mock billboard is Labour's warning against Gonzi making the proverbial froġa ("omelette"), as evidenced by the placing of the gas cylinder at the side of the billboard highlighting the latest price increase in gas, while an electricity and water bill can be seen in his pocket.

The 'Yellow Pages' magnet note on the fridge mocks a statement made up by BWSC middleman Joe Mizzi, who told MPs in the public accounts committee that he had picked Vassallo Builders - the contractor for Danish firm BWSC that won the controversial €200 million contract for the Delimara power station extension - off the Yellow Pages.

The billboard is built upon Gonzi's insistence that the Nationalist Party should listen more to the people's needs. Last February, after the PN leadership contest reconfirmed Gonzi as the party's leader, the Prime Minister said he had decided to focus his energy on placing the PN at the service of the people.

While he had appointed  MEP Simon Busuttil as his special delegate, and secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier as responsible for drawing up meetings between the ministers and society, Gonzi had told the councillors: "Go to the people's homes: it is such a wonderful experience to go into the kitchen to discuss what they are going through".

During that same speech, Gonzi said that the leadership contest campaign had led him come closer to voters and their concerns and insisted that the party and government should become more sensitive for the people'sconcerns , including the impact of gas prices in winter.